About DIG

The children of Northgate have a place to call their own! The Kidz DIG (Digging Into God) area is a place of wonder and discovery – where children learn Biblical truths.

Our goal for each weekend service is to create an environment that will be both educational and entertaining. We want to capture your child's imagination, intrigue them, and set them on a course of discovery and purpose. Areas are designed to help represent Biblical themes and stories. These places will help your child see the themes and stories of the Bible come alive!

When your child arrives on campus, they will be greeted by one of our DIG volunteers. All of our carefully-screened leaders have completed an extensive training program and are committed to the safety of your child. A computerized process makes it quick, simple and safe to check your children into the classrooms.

Our DIG program is as diverse as the children we serve. During all weekend services, DIG is offered for newborns through fifth graders. Each week's lesson is designed with the individual child in mind. Each child is taught in an age-appropriate environment. In each classroom, our desire is to see each child be cared for in an individual way. From loving care in the nursery to music in the elementary class, your child will be cared for in a safe, loving and encouraging environment. So come DIG with us!

Safety

If you are needed to return to your child's classroom, we will send a text to your cell phone. Please be sure to update your cell phone number and mobile provider at any DIG check-in station and make sure it is on vibrate (not silent) when you go into church.

All DIG volunteers have been screened and have completed a background check. They also participate in on-going training to better support your child during DIG services.

Sick Policy

Children may attend DIG services if they have had…

No Fever for the last 24 hours

No excessive runny nose (and no colored nasal mucus)

No diarrhea or flu symptoms (no vomiting within the last 24 hours)

No colds or coughs (unless allergy or asthma related)

No unusual rashes

No conjunctivitis (pinkeye)

No impetigo, active chicken pox, measles, or mumps

Note

All medications must be administered by parents.

If your child is on antibiotics, they must be on them for a solid 24 hours before they attend DIG.

Volunteer

We encourage all parents, students and Northgate members to take an active role in helping our children become followers of Jesus by serving in Children’s Ministry. We have volunteer positions available that will fit even the busiest of schedules- from weekdays, to weekends, to serving from home- there is an opportunity waiting for you!

Add your name and contact information to the Volunteer Sign Up sheet at any DIG Check-in station

During service mark on your Connection Card that you “want to serve in DIG”

Nursery For Little Ones Birth - 36 Months

What To Bring

When packing a diaper bag for your child, please include the following items:

• Two or three disposable diapers (No cloth diapers, please)• Pacifier or other item, should your child need it for security• A complete change of clothes in case your child would require that• A bottle of milk, formula, juice or water (This is a good practice even for mothers who nurse)

Please label all personal items with your child's first and last name before arriving at your child's class. This helps us keep track of your child's items.

Baby Wellness

For your child's health, we operate a Well-Baby Program.

For the protection of all the children in our ministry, we cannot accept a child with a runny nose, fresh cold (four days or less), fever, rash, persistent cough, diarrhea or any other signs of illness. We request that you not place your child in the program while they are at risk of exposing other children. Thank you in advance for helping us keep our DIG program a healthy place for all.

When you arrive at your child's room, a leader will meet you at the check-in area to receive your child and any other necessary items. Please check in and notify the leader of any information that will help in caring for your child, such as feeding times, sleeping times, allergies and special needs.At the time of check-in, you will apply an adhesive name tag to your child's back with his or her name on it. You will be given a parent sticker tag with your letter/number combination on it that matches your child’s name tag, you will need to show this to the leader in order to pick up your child at the end of service. We will verify that number on your child's name tag and then release your child to you. A child will not be released to a parent without presentation of the assigned sticker tag.

Snacks

Snacks are provided for the children once they graduate to the Walker classroom. The food items consist of water, fish crackers, Cheerios or vanilla wafers for our new walkers through 3 year olds. If your child has an allergy, please inform the leader when you check in your child.

Saying Goodbye

After you have completed the check-in process, simply wave a quick good-bye and leave for the worship service. As you know, it is normal for little ones to cry when leaving a parent. This does not last long, and separation becomes easier over time. Our leaders will immediately try to create interest in a toy or activity and give assurance that you will return after the worship service is completed. If your child cries for an extended period of time of 10 minutes, we will text you.

Checking On Your Child

Feel free to check on your little one at any time during the worship service. However, we ask that you do so discreetly, trying not to let your child see you.

Pick-Up Procedures

Your child's leader will expect the same person to drop off and pick up each child, unless special instructions are given at check-in. Please make sure that all your child's personal items have been returned to you before you leave the premises. Lost and found items will be retained for a short time. Items not claimed after one month are donated to a charitable organization.

Nursing Mothers

Nursing mothers may come into the 0-12 month nursery classroom to nurse. Because our space is limited, we ask mothers to limit their stay to just the time required to meet the needs of the child.

Preschool For Little Ones 3 - 4 Years Old

Welcome

When entering a classroom, the children are invited to participate in a variety of engaging activities during the duration of the check-in period. The activities are designed for the leaders to interact with the children, while creating an enjoyable learning environment and easing any separation anxieties that they may experience. The adult checking the child into the classroom is given an identification label that is necessary to release the child at the end of the service hour.

Snack Time

The children learn a Bible story and a memory verse each month that emphasizes the theme and focus of the lesson. They are encouraged to participate in a group discussion that will help them learn how to apply biblical truths to their lives. The lesson is concluded with a craft project that reinforces what they have learned and allows them to creatively express themselves. The classroom environments emphasize character development and spiritual growth.

Our lessons are developed to teach biblical truths about character, values and the church. Each week, children take home a HomeFront Weekly which is the coming week's lesson, and lists ways you can share the lesson with your child before they come on Sunday. The HomeFront also has a few fun activities for you and your child to experience and live out what they are learning. Therefore, on Sundays, we get to reinforce the story that you have already started sharing with your child!

Fellowship Time

At the end of the service hour, the children play a game or activity that reinforces the lesson and is a fun time of group connection. The children also enjoy a light, peanut-free snack together where prayers of thanksgiving are shared.

Bless Them

Just before we release the children, we gather together to give a blessing on them and their coming week. This is a time of prayer, encouragement and connection. Parents are welcome to come for the last part of service and be a part of blessing your child!

Check-Out Process

To retrieve a child from our classrooms, you will be required to provide the identification label that you were given when checking in the child. This is for the safety of our children and their families.

K - 1st Grade For Little Ones 5 - 6 Years Old

Welcome

Each week kids enter an elementary classroom – to be greeted by our warm and friendly team of leaders. The sounds of energetic, worshipful music can be heard as children learn to worship God. They hear Bible lessons presented in such an interactive, creative way that they are able to apply the truths learned to real life. Our classroom environments emphasize character development and spiritual growth.

Story Time

Kids sense the love of God from their team of dedicated leaders, who are committed to serving Christ by leading kids. The children learn a Bible story and a memory verse each month that emphasize the theme and focus of the lesson. They also have small group time – called Shepherd Groups – where a Shepherd leader reinforces the lesson and talks about how they can apply it to their lives. The Shepherd Groups are divided according to children's ages.

Our lessons are developed to teach biblical truths about character, values and the church. Each week, children take home a HomeFront Weekly which is the coming week's lesson, and lists ways you can share the lesson with your child before they come on Sunday. The HomeFront also has a few fun activities for you and your child to experience and live out what they are learning. Therefore, on Sundays, we get to reinforce the story that you have already started sharing with your child!

Fellowship Time

At the beginning of the service hour, the children play a game or activity that reinforces the lesson and is a fun time of group connection. The children also enjoy a light, peanut-free snack together where prayers of thanksgiving are shared during their Shepherd Group time later in the service.

Bless Them

Just before we release the children, we gather together to give a blessing on them and their coming week. This is a time of prayer, encouragement and connection. Parents are welcome to come for the last part of service and be a part of blessing your child!

Check-Out Process

To retrieve a child from our classrooms, you will be required to provide the identification label that you were given when checking in the child. This is for the safety of our children and their families.

2nd - 3rd Grade For Little Ones 6 - 7 Years Old

The Cave

Each week kids enter our elementary classroom for 2nd & 3rd graders– the CAVE – to be greeted by our warm and friendly team of leaders. The sounds of energetic, worshipful music can be heard as children learn to worship God. They hear Bible lessons presented in such an interactive, creative way that they are able to apply the truths learned to real life. Our classroom environments emphasize character development and spiritual growth.

Story Time

Kids sense the love of God from their team of dedicated leaders, who are committed to serving Christ by leading kids. The children learn a Bible story and a memory verse each month that emphasize the theme and focus of the lesson. They also have small group time – called Shepherd Groups – where a Shepherd leader reinforces the lesson and talks about how they can apply it to their lives.

Our lessons are developed to teach biblical truths about character, values and the church. Each week, children take home a HomeFront Weekly which is the coming week's lesson, and lists ways you can share the lesson with your child before they come on Sunday. The HomeFront also has a few fun activities for you and your child to experience and live out what they are learning. Therefore, on Sundays, we get to reinforce the story that you have already started sharing with your child!

Fellowship Time

At the beginning of the service hour, the children play a game or activity that reinforces the lesson and is a fun time of group connection. The children also engage in a fun, interactive worship time where they sing songs about Jesus’ love for us.

Bless Them

Just before we release the children, we gather together to give a blessing on them and their coming week. This is a time of prayer, encouragement and connection. Parents are welcome to come for the last part of service and be a part of blessing your child!

Check-Out Process

To retrieve a child from our classrooms, you will be required to provide the identification label that you were given when checking in the child. This is for the safety of our children and their families.

4th - 5th Grade For Little Ones 8 - 9 Years Old

Club 45

Club 45 is an awesome place where our 4th and 5th graders come together on Sundays to worship and deepen their relationship with Jesus. Upon arrival they’ll be greeted by our warm and friendly team of leaders and the sounds of energetic, worshipful music can be heard as children learn to worship God. They engage in interactive Bible lessons presented in such a creative way and hands-on way that they are able to apply the truths learned to real life. Our classroom environments emphasize character development and spiritual growth.

Story Time

Kids sense the love of God from their team of dedicated leaders, who are committed to serving Christ by leading kids. The children learn a Bible story and a memory verse each month that emphasize the theme and focus of the lesson. They also have small group time – called Shepherd Groups – where a Shepherd leader reinforces the lesson and talks about how they can apply it to their lives.

Our lessons are developed to teach biblical truths about character, values and the church. Each week, children take home a HomeFront Weekly which is the coming week's lesson, and lists ways you can share the lesson with your child before they come on Sunday. The HomeFront also has a few fun activities for you and your child to experience and live out what they are learning. Therefore, on Sundays, we get to reinforce the story that you have already started sharing with your child!

Fellowship & Worship Time

At the beginning of the service hour, the children play a game or activity that reinforces the lesson and is a fun time of group connection. The children also engage in a fun, interactive worship time where they sing songs about Jesus’ love for us.

Bless Them

Just before we release the children, we gather together to give a blessing on them and their coming week. This is a time of prayer, encouragement and connection. Parents are welcome and encouraged to come for the last part of service and be a part of blessing your child!

Check-Out Process

To retrieve a child from our classrooms, you will be required to provide the identification label that you were given when checking in the child. This is for the safety of our children and their families.

Baby Dedication For Little Ones Birth - 36 Months

A Renewal of a Godly Tradition

The arrival of a new baby is a time of rejoicing for any family. The newness of life often brings a special freshness toward all of life. Often, during this time, parents want to do something in the church building to celebrate their joy with others and to present their child to God for blessing.

Bringing Babies to the Lord

The joy of Jesus' birth was shared with the people of God in the house of God. Like most Jewish parents in that day, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple to be presented to God. Long before this time, godly parents presented their children to God. And to this day, parents bring their children to God, asking for His blessing. Christian parents are encouraged to dedicate their children to God during a public worship service. During this Baby Dedication service, a beautiful and solemn promise is made before God and the Church to care for this child as though it was God's child.

The Dedication

Children are a gift from God. Like everything good in life, they come from God and they belong to Him. Parents are caretakers of the children God has given them. As parents speak to the pastor about their desire to dedicate their children to God, there are several questions they should ask themselves:

Since dedication of children is a Christian act of giving children to God for His glory, the most obvious question to ask is, "Are we Christians?" As a couple standing before God dedicating their child to Him in a Christian church, their life should show the characteristics of Christ. Sometimes people bring their babies for dedication because it is "the thing to do." God is honored by hearts that genuinely desire to please Him without regard for what others think. Christian dedication of babies is for Christian families.

The next question is, "Are we serious about this dedication?" Parents should ask themselves if they really want to see their child serve God. Would they like to see their child become a preacher, a Christian businessman, a missionary, or a common laborer for Christ? When Hannah, the mother of Samuel the prophet dedicated him to the Lord, she promised to give him up to serve God in the temple (1 Samuel 1-2:11).

Dedication of children to God means handing them over to Him to do with as He pleases. An act of dedication is an act of faith in God, trusting Him to call the children wisely and mercifully. Another question that is appropriate to ask at the time of Christian Dedication is, "Are we willing to oversee our child's Christian development?" Scripture tells us that we are to train a child in the way he should go (Proverbs 22:6). This includes meeting together regularly as Christians to spur one another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:23-24).

Dedication of children to God is a promise to model a Christian lifestyle to the children, worshipping with a church family regularly. In a sense, a Christian Dedication of a child is a dedication of the parents to be godly role models. A final question to ask is, "Are we, the parents, in agreement on this?" A pastor cannot really dedicate someone else's baby to God, because the baby does not belong to the pastor. The parents have been made caretakers of their baby. Only they can dedicate the child to God. It is important that they are committed to the Christian Dedication.

As parents presenting your child to the Lord, you signify your own personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. You show a desire to see God's will carried out in the life of your child; and you acknowledge your place as stewards of what really belongs to God – your child.

Dedication means that by word and example, you promise to teach your child to live a holy life and to value the good gifts God has given us. You promise to give your child every opportunity and encouragement to develop into the well-rounded Christian individual God intends him or her to be.

Dedication before God and the Church means that you realize that the Church should has a large part in the spiritual growth of your family. The church body should know you and your child, so they can give prayer support and assist in Bible teaching. They will provide opportunities, facilities and workers through which you and your child can enter into the fullness of Christian faith.

The Pledge

The leadership at Northgate Christian Fellowship would love to assist you in dedicating your child to God:

*If it is your wish to follow the example of godly parents who throughout the ages presented their children to God in dedication*If you understand that your child is a gift from God and that He will hold you accountable for your child's spiritual growth in Christ*If you promise to pray for and with your child, to instruct your child in the things of God, to teach your child to read God's Word, and to do everything in your power to bring your child to a knowledge of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord*If you believe it is a great privilege to offer a child back to the Creator, and wish to stand before God and the Church to dedicate your child to God